4/17/2008

Last to Second, Brian DeFebo Thrilled Mahoning Crowd on Opening Night
by Dino Oberto

   Berwick’s Brian DeFebo has established himself as one of the area’s undisputed top guns and in last week’s season opener at Mahoning Valley Speedway he proved it again with an incredible drive that saw him start in 21st and last place and come within a lap of winning the Frost Free 100, a race he also won two years ago.
    Aside from the thrilling win by Lou Strohl, DeFebo’s runner-up was just as remarkable as he delighted the crowd by twice coming from the back of the pack to challenge for the lead. The first time he had climbed to second place was at the halfway mark where he bided his time behind then leader John Markovic. Unfortunately a flat tire forced him to make a pit stop.
   With 33 laps remaining, there was still enough time to regroup and he swiftly drove back towards the front positioning for the win. Strohl, who was also a long shot, found himself in a spot for victory after a late race caution lined him up in third with two laps to go. DeFebo was fourth. Ahead of them was defending track champ Chip Santee and leader Pete Brittain.
   When the green flag had come back out Strohl took quick action on Brittain who was contending with Santee on his outside. He blasted to the bottom of the race track and whizzed by for the lead and victory. DeFebo followed in his tire tracks.
   Clearly having the faster car, he felt that one more lap and the race would have been his.
    “I thought I would be the first two-time winner of the Frost Free 100, but things happen. I got a flat tire going through the one accident and the car started to pick up a push. I came in and the guys changed tires and when we went back out it was rocket again. A couple more laps and you never know what would have happened,” said DeFebo.
    Although he ended on a high note, the start of the evening was anything but that. Regarded as a good time trialer, DeFebo encountered issues with his tires during his qualifying run and clocked in with a below par 15th fastest. Things did not fare much better during his heat race either as again a flat tire just as the green was coming out relegated him to making the field via the consi.
    “That kind of set the tone and it wasn’t really looking good. But I knew I practiced better then I time trialed and because of a flat tire it got me started in a rut,” said DeFebo.
    “It (car) was horrible from the get-go when we got to the track. We adjusted and did a couple of things. We had to go through the consi to get into the field and I chose to start 21st. Fortunately we stayed out of trouble and were able to pass a lot of cars on our way up to the front.”
    Once the feature started all thoughts of his miserable night quickly ended as he began passing cars in earnest.
    “I was able to go anywhere I wanted. We did pretty well in the beginning. I was just outside the top ten when the first caution came out. When I first got into sixth spot which was around lap 30, it was at that point that I thought to myself that this was going to be the night were I am going to win because I just felt so comfortable with it (car).
    “When I got up to fourth and passed Brittain on the inside and got Santee on the outside and then I got behind Markovic, I thought I would just follow him for a couple of laps and then pass him,” he continued.
    “We were running a really good pace but it was one of those weird things were you feel comfortable in the car and then just like anything when you get your expectations up, I had a tire starting to go flat and the car started getting real tight.
    “Next thing I know Markovic is a straightaway ahead of me, which isn’t much at Mahoning, and then Brittain’s passing me on the outside and when Santee passed me back is when the tire went completely down. It turned out to be a blessing that the caution had come out right at that time and I was able to pit and change the tire.”
    Without missing a beat, DeFebo was back passing and surging frontward. After the final caution he knew his best option was to tail Strohl.
    “We just picked up where we left off, passing as fast as we were before the tire started going down. It surprised me how quick I got up to fourth spot on that last restart. I went from thinking my day is done to thinking I’m still going to win this race,” he said.
    “The next thing I saw was the front two guys twiddling around and Strohl had to go three wide to pass them and I did the same thing. There’s now two laps to go and your just hoping for another caution.”
    Although that never happened DeFebo still had one of the more memorable drives at the demanding quarter-mile in some time. For most to be able to pull off what he did it would have been quite gratifying. However, DeFebo is a driver that comes to the track with one thing on his mind, win races.
    “It was satisfying but for me I have high expectations. We’re up front a lot and I take for granted running good. Second to me is a disappointment were a lot of people may take it as a good day.
    “I’m kind of greedy when it comes to that. Second is good to start off the season and that’s the way I look at it. It’s better than busting say a right front wheel off and finishing dead last. But I go to win and that’s our goal.”
    DeFebo is one of the few drivers who takes advantage of the area’s two asphalt ovals. During the early weeks of the season both tracks race on different days which gives him that flexibility. By mid May they’re both on the same night.
   “Our plan right now is until the split I want to see where we stand in the points. You don’t want to start thinking points right away but I want to win races and I’d like to win the most up until the time we have to make the decision,” he noted.
    “If the points say we’re going to stay at Mahoning then that’s where we’re going to fall. I screwed up two years ago. I was leading points at both tracks and you can have your ego take over and you make the wrong decision. You have to do what’s right for you and your sponsors and don’t get to confident in yourself.”
    DeFebo is the winningest driver at Mountain and has five championships. For him to win a title at Mahoning Valley would be fulfilling to his career.
    “It would be a big boost to know that we can go there (Mahoning) and do something like that. We’ve had great success over the years and it’s kind of expected that when somebody comes to Mountain they know that’s our house and we’re always going to be a contender there.
    “When we go to Mahoning we’re just a player in the game. If we can go down there week in and week out and prove our self then we’re not just a contender. That can become our house too.”